the 941

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s get ready to ruuuuuuumble!

It’s Saturday night and I’m at Stardust Event Center for the first ever Sarasota Roller Girls bout. As I wait for the match to kick off, a palpable feeling of getting ready to crush some bitches hangs in the air. I can’t wait. The MC builds anticipation with a detailed explanation of the rules of the game — something about “blockers” and “jammers” — as well as individual introductions of all the pun-tastic players on both teams. (I think “Smashley Whiplash” might be my fave.)

Sarasota is taking on the Fort Myers Derby Girls this evening, and gossip around the track is that Fort Myers expects an easy win over the newbies from SRQ. Nevertheless, the Roller Girls look primed and pumped. I’ve got my beer and found a spot in the “suicide seats” — the first ring of seating, just three feet from the boundaries of the track — when the girls take off at the whistle. The crowd erupts in cheers as these skating divas shove and skate their way ’round the room. (more…)

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Feeling a bit like Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, the man who first discovered Bradenton in 1539, tonight I am traveling across the Sarasota/Manatee county line for South Florida Museum’s annual fundraiser, Snooty’s Gala. Like the Asolo, the ballet and the opera house, this museum has of late taken up the mission of promoting its cause amongst the local “young professional” set. Thus my presence at tonight’s gala, armed with the necessary gear for any social explorer: gown, jewels, notepad and camera — if only I had one of those fabulous jaunty hats like the conquistadors wore… (more…)

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The psychedelic punch was flowing last Friday night at Rustic Grill for Creative Loafing’s 2009 Best of the Suncoast Party. As you may have read, we’ve been working for literealy months to bring you the mammoth Best Of issue and by Friday night the entire staff was super psyched to gather for the party to celebrate all our efforts.

In this case, I’ll let the pictures tell the story: Party-goers, CL staff included, took the Woodstock theme to heart and donned wigs, Pucci-prints, and go-go boots galore to celebrate in style at the beautiful Rustic Grill. Check out our fab photog Peter Acker’s work after the jump (you can also order prints from his website here). (more…)

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With Halloween falling on a Saturday, this last weekend of October is sure to be a big one (check out The List for the full rundown on Halloween haps around the city).

Before the holiday proper, however, I’m really excited to attend the Vicious & Delicious Fashion Show at Cabana on Friday night. You may know Carrie Hopping as the Cabana’s kick-ass bar-mistress who always remembers your drink and never leaves you waiting. As it turns out, Carrie is also a fashion designer extraordinaire and this Friday is her debut runway show as Ree Vicious, creatrice of couture corset-wear. Her models will show off custom-designed corsets that Ree has created in conjunction with her team of “amazing” seamstresses, each corset more intricate than the next.

“This show has been 12 years in the making,” Ree tells me, and chalks up her love of corsetry to the feeling a woman gets from putting one on. “I find them empowering. They bring out your inner bad girl — try cooking dinner for your boyfriend in a corset and stilletos and you’ll see what I mean.”

Checking out hot women in sexy corsets not your thing? I’d call you crazy, but in addition to the fashion show Ree has fire dancers, local vendors and a great lineup of live music throughout night (and duh, two full bars). The party lasts from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. with acts like The Southern Industrial, Doc Ruckus and (personal favorite) Shock to the System setting the mood.

You can also get a part of the charity raffle action by purchasing a ticket for just two bucks with the chance to win a custom corset of your own or any number of other great prizes. Proceeds are going towards SRQ Dance and Big Brothers, Big Sisters, two causes Miss. Ree enthusiastically suppports.
After the show Ree will begin taking orders from the public for her exquisite corsets, but hurry to get to her first — she will only create a few of each design locally. I’ll be there on Friday to pick mine out, and damn right I’m gonna fight you for it!

8 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri., Oct. 30, Cabana Inn, 2525 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 955-0195, $5 cover.

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We are excited to announce the winners of the Safe Sex Halloween Bash Cocktail Contest! A few weeks back we asked you to help come up with a name for the signature event cocktail at Planned Parenthood’s fabulous CL-Sponsored Halloween Party.

After much deliberation, the folks at Planned Parenthood have selected their favorite — drum-roll, please — the “Transylvania Flame.” Fern Porras is the lucky winner of two tickets to the Halloween Bash on Sat., Oct. 31.

Runners-up Melinda (the “Scream-tini”) and Sheryl Vieria (”Vampire Kiss”) will each receive a bottle of Vampire Wine.

Congratulations! You will be contacted about how to collect your winnings, and thank you to everyone who submitted those spook-tacular drink names. We’ll look forward to seeing everyone there!

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The feeling of fall started to kick in for me on Friday night, when I found myself driving down a dark and winding road east of 75 to catch the tail end of the T-Shirt and Jewelery Party I told you about last week. I loved the pop-up store setup and enjoyed a beer with proprietors Kyle Cross and Alaina Farmer as happy customers tried on one-of-a-kind artist-designed tees and neato handmade necklaces.

“Holy drums,” read the incoming message on my iPhone: My next stop was Drummer Night at the Cock & Bull Pub, just ’round the corner. The setup was jaw-dropping — ever seen 20 drum kits in one place? — and the hipster elite were in attendance en masse. The addition of a few talented ax-men made the drummers’ melange all the more magical. My Friday night ended, like many others, catching up with my closest crew at Ivory Lounge and watchin’ the locals get foolish on the dance floor.

Talk on Saturday was of the cold weather and the fancy-pants UnGala Gala. (more…)

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Just in case you somehow haven’t heard, we here at CL are very excited to bring you the official Creative Loafing Best of the Suncoast Party this Friday at Rustic Grill. The entire staff has been working for months planning and preparing this week’s mega-issue and it’s time to kick back and celebrate our hard work as well as this year’s critics’ and readers’ picks with all of our favorite people — that’s right, you, dear readers.

We can’t wait for the fabulous fête, which we’ve organized around a Woodstock theme, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the iconic music festival. Dress is “boho chic” — i.e. a 2009 take on the free-spirit vibe. I’m thinking boots, paisley, shawls and headbands for the ladies, topped with loose and lustrous locks (don’t worry, we’ll provide the daisies). Guys, pull out your Zeppelin tees, throw on a pendant, or get really funky with anything fringed or suede and you’re ready to rock. (more…)

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Another new event is hitting town this weekend, and organizers Kyle Cross and Alaina Farmer are calling it simply, a T-Shirt and Jewelery Party. Based in Cross’ warehouse just east of I-75 (not far from the Cock & Bull if you’re planning on checking out Drummer Night on Friday), the two-day event will feature live screenprinting by Cross (formerly of Digital Three Studios), booze, local art and handmade one-of-a-kind jewelery by Farmer.

I just picked up a badass bauble at Miss Alaina’s trunk show last week at Simon’s Coffee House, when Kyle first told me about the upcoming party. “This will be a limited public engagement where people can come and get something they can’t find anywhere else. And most everything is $15 or less.” They plan to repeat the event monthly, at least through the holidays, drawing an increasingly diverse crowd as the city discovers these local artists’ fabulous creations.

8 p.m.-midnight Fri., Oct. 16 and noon-10 p.m. Sat., Oct. 17, 6321 Porter Road, Ste. 9, Sarasota, 321-7205, or find more info on facebook.

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Fair to say that the first iteration of the Ringling International Arts Festival this weekend was a success. Reports on Monday morning stated that around 95 percent of available tickets for the entire festival were sold. Pretty good for their first outing. Certainly the million-plus grant from the state didn’t hurt matters, but millions or not, by the time the event kicked off on Wednesday night, energy and enthusiasm were very high.

My first rendezvous with the RIAF was Friday night for Meow Meow. I was really excited to check out the cabaret spitfire and her raucous performance did not disappoint. (more…)

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Last week’s “cold snap” sent me into my closet quite excited. Pants! Long Sleeves! Boots! Ah yes, it is fall, finally, in Florida. In addition to the new weather pattern and a trip to the movies to catch the new Vogue documentary, The September Issue, a weekend of not feeling well was finally allowing me time to digest the stack of fashion magazines that had piled up on my coffee table. By Sunday I had one thing on my mind: fall fashion.

Yes we are excited about all those pants, sleeves and boots, but how to best wear them this season, and how to procure said items, especially if one is on a budget? Not to worry, dear reader, this week I bring you my consise guide on how to look hot now that the weather is cool by focusing on key looks and pieces. Be sure to check out our Best of the Suncoast issue at the end of the month, when I will contribute my suggestions on where best to find ’em. (more…)

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